C Genital Piercings: What Is Known O N And What People with Genital T I N Piercings Tell Us U Myrna L. Armstrong I Carol Caliendo N Alden E. Roberts G urses in many practice Nurses need information about people with genital piercings so that E arenas are encounter- they may provide non-judgmental, clinically competent care. The D ing clients with body genital piercing procedure, types of genital piercings, information U piercings in visible found in the health care literature, and data from 37 subjects who N(face and ears) and semi-visible have self-reported genital piercings are presented. C (navel, nipple, and tongue) sites. A Nurses caring for patients with T urology problems are encounter- health care for a variety of physi- ing more patients with body Additionally, lack of knowledge I cal conditions, including pierc- piercings in intimate sites such and understanding of these client O ing-related infections, bleeding, as the genitals. For example: practices may challenge the nerve damage, or allergic reac- N While performing a physical nurse’s ability to provide non- tions (Meyer, 2000). assessment, the professional judgmental care. Some health For health care providers, the nurse discovers that the 25-year- professionals feel that people physical aspects of treatment and old female client is wearing two who choose to have body pierc- care may pose a dilemma, but so silver rings on her labia. ings deserve whatever outcome might their personal reaction to A 32-year-old male presents occurs (Ferguson, 1999). In con- the genital piercings. The authors with a groin injury. During the trast, this type of body art could have overheard the following examination, the urologic nurse be a meaningful part of the types of responses to the above notices several pieces of jewelry client’s human behavior (Meyer, sample client interactions, “Why in his scrotum and penis. 2000), including a deliberate would someone do such a As the proliferation of body modification of one’s appearance thing?” and “Are these people piercings continues so will num- similar to what Shilling (1997) normal?” Others have been heard bers of clients who seek care for and Atkinson (2002, p. 219) call to exclaim, “They must be sex treatment of adverse effects. “purposive body projects.” fiends,” or “Watch out! These These patients may present for The focus of this article is to people have lots of STDs and address the (a) genital piercing other awful diseases.” procedure, (b) various types of Professional nurses may not genital piercings, (c) genital Myrna L. Armstrong, EdD, RN, agree with or accept the practice FAAN, is a Professor, Texas Tech piercing information, including University Health Sciences Center of genital body piercing, nor recent information about compli- School of Nursing, Texas Tech make the choice to have anything cations and treatment found in University – Highland Lakes, Marble but their own ears pierced. In the health literature, and (d) data Falls, TX. fact, just the thought of piercing from 37 subjects who have self- the genitals may provoke feelings reported genital piercings. These Carol Caliendo, ND, CNM, CRNP, is of discomfort and distaste both subjects were part of a larger study Dean, College of Professional Studies, personally and professionally. reported elsewhere (Caliendo, and a Professor, School of Nursing, Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA. Authors’ Note: Parts of this work were funded by Carlow College Office of Alden E. Roberts, PhD, is a Sponsored Programs, Iota Mu and Zeta Sigma Chapters, Sigma Theta Tau, Professor, Department of Sociology, International, and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Anthropology, and Social Work, Texas Nursing Research and Practice Committee. Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Note: CE Objectives and Evaluation Form appear on page 180. UROLOGIC NURSING / June 2006 / Volume 26 Number 3 173 C Armstrong, & Roberts, 2005). One infection or trauma) as wire cut- styles of genital piercings, most O aim of that research was to seek ters often produce further harm likely related to less tissue for further information about individ- to the surrounding tissue. As any attachment of jewelry on N uals with genital piercings, from illustrated in Figure 1, there are their anatomical structures T those who actually have genital two major types of jewelry: the (Anderson et al., 2003). Female I piercings. The information con- barbell type and a captive bead. piercings are usually found on tained in this article is additional The barbell has either a curved or the hood of the clitoris and the N anecdotal information not report- straight shank (or post) with balls labia (see Figure 1), although U ed in that study. at both ends. To remove the bar- recently the “Princess Albertina,” a I bell, use a forceps to hold the variance on the Prince Albert, has Genital Piercing Procedure shank of the jewelry, while turn- been reported. This new piercing N According to Ferguson (1999), ing the ball counter-clockwise. is done “above, or just inside the G genital piercings are “largely a The captive bead type has two vagina orifice” (Halliday, 2005, p. Western phenomenon” (p. 29). pieces: a bead, held in place by 55). International medical litera- E They are created similarly to gen- an incomplete metal circle. To ture frequently refers to the British eral body piercings but the proce- remove this, release the tension law, Prohibition of Female D dure should always be done on the bead by opening the for- Circumcision Act of 1985, which U by highly experienced piercers ceps within the ring; doing this forbids female mutilation; C (Christensen, Miller, Patsdaughter, will cause the bead to “pop” out Anderson et al. (2003) believe this & Dowd, 2000). No state or county of place (Halliday, 2005). Jewelry dissuades Britain’s piercers from A ordinance regarding body art in can collect cellular debris around too much creativity with female T this country seems to be requir- it so wear gloves during the genital piercings. Stirn (2003) I ing special procedures or body removal process. asserts that women with genital piercer expertise when perform- Genital sites (see Figure 1) of piercings are trying to prevent O ing genital body procedures the foreskin, penis, scrotum, cli- sexual contacts by guarding their N (Armstrong, 2005). toris, perineum, and labia are all body from further violation. To perform a genital piercing, common areas for intimate pierc- However, a study by Millner, the skin is cleaned, the location ings but creativity abounds in Eichold, Sharpe, and Lynn (2005) marked, and a 12 to 16-gauge hol- regard to genital piercing. identified (n=33) increased fre- low needle (with a piece of jew- Sometimes other pieces of “inert quency of sexual desire, level of elry attached to it) is threaded foreign material such as beads, or desire, and level of arousal with through the skin. As small pearls, etc.” (Cronin, 2001, p. clitoral hood piercings. amounts of bleeding and serosan- 382) can also be inserted under Pierced genital sites usually guinous fluid usually emerge penile tissue. These additions, heal within a few weeks to from the pierced site when the called penis marbles, nodules, or months, depending on the loca- puncture track is made, hepatitis bulleetus, originated in Eastern tion and amount of piercings B and C will always be a poten- cultures. Piercers will informally (Anderson et al., 2003), yet infec- tial risk (Armstrong, 2004; say that more men than women tions can arise at any time, Tweeten & Rickman, 1998). tend to obtain genital piercings whether following the proce- However, the use of a new, sterile but no accurate data on the actu- dure, due to poor aftercare, or as needle for each piercing and al incidence by gender is avail- a result of secondary trauma to meticulous attention to universal able. For men, the “Prince Albert the site. Motion in genital loca- precautions should minimize (PA)” is a common genital pierc- tions (erection of the penis) is this risk. Various amounts of ing, which perforates the urinary also a factor. Any patent tract can pain are reported at the time of meatus and corona. This fre- expose a person to local infection piercing (Hansen, Olsen, & quently affects the flow and aim as well as invade surrounding Langklide, 1998). of the urine stream and may force tissues predisposing them to sys- Proper jewelry (inert nontox- men to sit during urination temic illness, especially if the ic substances such as surgical (Caliendo et al., 2005; Ferguson, infection is not properly treated stainless steel, niobium, or titani- 1999). While the PA definitely in a timely manner. Consistent um) is important to minimize has physical disadvantages, there and conscientiousness daily infections and allergic responses. may be benefits as well. This cleansing of the site post-piercing Most quality jewelry for genital type of piercing has been with diluted saline solution as piercings is sold in the piercer’s described as causing “an intense well as an antibacterial soap and studio. Health care providers urethral stimulation during inter- water are important to remove should be knowledgeable about course” (Anderson, Summerton, most harmful organisms and correct removal of jewelry (a Sharma, & Holmes, 2003, p. 247). accumulation of discharge. potential need with extensive Females tend to have fewer Sexual activity should be 174 UROLOGIC NURSING / June 2006 / Volume 26 Number 3 Figure 1. avoided for at least 2 weeks. C Common Types of Genital Piercings When sexual activity is resumed O after healing, Stork (2002) and Figure Description Meltzer (2005) both recommend N the use of two condoms during Female Genital T intercourse to accommodate the I Outer or inner labia: Can be placed on any loca- presence of jewelry in the genital tion and often done as multiple piercings.